Told in three passages, Moonlight conveys the story of an alienated black youth from childhood (Alex Hibbert) to adolescense (Ashton Sanders) through young adulthood (Trevante Rhodes) as he grapples with a crack addicted mother (Naomie Harris) finds comfort and shelter in the home of a noble dealer (Mahershala Ali) in his impoverished Miami neighborhood while concurrently coming to terms with his own sexuality. Drawn from Tarell Alvin McCraney's play, Barry Jenkinks semi-autobiographic, starkly filmed, and well-acted poetic rumination sadly unravels in the forced and illconceived third act which feels more like a film school thesis rather than a continuation of the well-formed, moving meditation that preceded it. Ali and Sanders are particular standouts.
*** out of ****
